The season at Arlington Park Race Track still has two more months, but the number of euthanized horses has rocketed up to 17. To put that in perspective, 12 horses were euthanized last season. Just about all of the breakdowns have occurred at the same spot on the track. The culprit is the turn leading into the homestretch on the dirt track. Something is seriously wrong there. Joe King has been brought in to examine the fatal piece of track.

Even though he said the piece of track is perfectly safe, horse owners are getting very nervous. Earl J. Trostrud Jr. has lost one horse this season and he has four left. His horse, Angelic Morgan L., was hurt and destroyed on June 17. He said, “I’m very seriously thinking about not racing.” While he and other owners believe the problem is the track, the Illinois regulatory officials have another idea. According to them, the lack of thoroughbreds in the state has prompted some owners and trainers to over-race their horses.

Everyone has an opinion on what’s to blame. According to former governor, Jim Edgar, it’s the track. One of his horses, Jake’s Fever, was destroyed after a race about two weeks ago. He also has another horse, San Cart, that was almost put down. San Cart is going to make it, but the horse will never race again. According to him, something is very wrong and it’s not the “owners’ and trainer’s greediness.” Some owners are pulling horses from the track.

One thing is for sure, the last two months of the season are going to be very tense. With every race, trainers, owners and track officials will be looking on for fatal steps around the turn. It’s easy to blame the owners and trainers for over-running the horses. But how do you explain the fact that the horses are breaking down in the same exact spot on the track?